BMW XM vs Land Rover Defender OCTA

The BMW XM starts from $309,900 before on-road costs, while the Land Rover Defender OCTA opens at $304,500. That makes the Land Rover Defender OCTA the more affordable entry point by $5,400.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $340,890 and $334,950 respectively.

The BMW XM qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Land Rover Defender OCTA, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BMW XM by roughly $15,790 in fuel alone.

Both the BMW XM and Land Rover Defender OCTA hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BMW XM and 85% for the Land Rover Defender OCTA.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The BMW XM packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 7 in the Land Rover Defender OCTA.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the BMW XM and 6 in the Land Rover Defender OCTA.

The BMW XM features a 14.9-inch touchscreen, while the Land Rover Defender OCTA gets a 13.1-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW XM stands out with head-up display and Bowers & Wilkins audio that you will not find on the Land Rover Defender OCTA. The Land Rover Defender OCTA counters with Meridian audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW XM uses a Plug-in Hybrid producing 550kW and 800Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.3 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender OCTA responds with a 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbo Petrol Mild Hybrid making 467kW and 750Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 4 seconds.

The BMW XM has the clear power advantage at 550kW vs 467kW. In the real-world sprint, the Land Rover Defender OCTA is 0.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW XM measures 5,110mm long on a 3,105mm wheelbase, 297mm longer than the Land Rover Defender OCTA at 4,813mm (3,023mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW XM generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 500L in the BMW XM and 972L in the Land Rover Defender OCTA, giving the Land Rover Defender OCTA a 472L advantage.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender OCTA leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 2,700kg. That 800kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $576/year for the BMW XM and $3,734/year for the Land Rover Defender OCTA. That is a $3,158 annual difference in favour of the BMW XM.

Estimated annual total: $576 (BMW XM) vs $3,734 (Land Rover Defender OCTA). The BMW XM saves you roughly $3,158 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW XM) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Land Rover Defender OCTA). Both match on warranty length.